August 31st 2024.
Novak Djokovic was not a happy man after his disappointing exit from the US Open. The Serbian tennis legend expressed his frustration with himself as he faced a shocking defeat in the third round at the hands of Alexei Popyrin from Australia. This early exit marks his first time in 18 years that he has not made it past the initial stages of the tournament.
Despite his recent success of winning Olympic gold in Paris, Djokovic will not be adding another Grand Slam title to his collection this year. In a candid interview, he did not shy away from admitting that his performance was far from his best. "I have to be honest, I played some of the worst tennis I have ever played," he said. "It's a tough pill to swallow, but I have to accept it."
Djokovic explained that his struggles were a result of his poor play on the court. He pointed out his lack of a dominant serve, low first-serve percentage, and numerous double faults as major contributing factors to his defeat. He also acknowledged the pressure put on him by Popyrin's strong performance, making it difficult for him to regain control of the match.
For Popyrin, this was a major career milestone as he secured his spot in the fourth round of a Grand Slam for the first time. Djokovic made it clear that there were no physical issues to blame for his loss, but rather a lack of energy throughout the tournament. "I gave it my all, but I just didn't have enough in the tank. From the very beginning, I could feel that something was off," he admitted.
Despite the disappointment, Djokovic congratulated his opponent and his team for their well-deserved victory. He also acknowledged that it was time for him to move on and focus on what lies ahead. "Life goes on and I will regroup and look forward to my next challenge," he said.
This defeat adds to the list of surprising upsets at Flushing Meadows, following the early exit of Carlos Alcaraz in the second round. With Djokovic out of the picture, Jannik Sinner has emerged as the top favorite to lift the trophy, closely followed by Alexander Zverev and Daniil Medvedev according to bookmakers. As for Djokovic, he will have to wait until next year for another chance at a Grand Slam title.
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